Government > Dependency status: Countries Compared

There are nine countries in the world with territories, dependencies, politically linked commonwealths, special administrative regions or divisions, and possessions: France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and China. Combined, they have formal relationships with 63 dependent entities.

France, with 16 overseas departments, possessions and territorial collectivities, has the greatest number of dependent units. It is followed by Britain, which claims 15 crown dependencies and overseas territories. The United States is third with 14 incorporated and unincorporated territories and politically associated commonwealths.

Two of the territories claimed by the U.K. â€“ the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands â€“ are also claimed by Argentina. The dispute between the two countries over the ownership of these islands led to the Falklands War in 1982.

constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense in consultation with the Cook Islands

territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System

unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island

self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue

incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Interesting observations about Government > Dependency status

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There are nine countries in the world with territories, dependencies, politically linked commonwealths, special administrative regions or divisions, and possessions: France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and China. Combined, they have formal relationships with 63 dependent entities.

France, with 16 overseas departments, possessions and territorial collectivities, has the greatest number of dependent units. It is followed by Britain, which claims 15 crown dependencies and overseas territories. The United States is third with 14 incorporated and unincorporated territories and politically associated commonwealths.

Two of the territories claimed by the U.K. â€“ the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands â€“ are also claimed by Argentina. The dispute between the two countries over the ownership of these islands led to the Falklands War in 1982.